Insulated Window Treatments Conserve Energy, Increase Comfort

If rising fuel and heating prices have you searching this winter for energy-saving alternatives that are easy on your already tight budget, consider insulated window treatments. No matter where you live, these specialty drapes will help cut your energy and heating costs while adding a little style to any room.

One of the biggest areas of heat loss in most homes is drafty old windows and doors. Even tiny openings can suck out a significant amount of heat, forcing your home’s heating and cooling system to work harder and costing you more money on utilities. Fortunately, it is pretty easy to remedy the situation without spending thousands of dollars on new windows.

First, be sure your windows and doors are sealed as well as possible. Re-caulk and replace worn weather stripping to fix drafts. After all, putting up insulated window treatments won’t do much to combat ill-fitting widow sashes and door seals.

Once you have ensured that all the windows in your house are sealed up tight, there are lots of options for insulating your home with window treatments.


Cellular Shades:
Many of the industry’s top manufacturers now market cellular shades that incorporate single, double, and triple layers of cells to absorb drafts and stop heating or cooling loss. These shades are available in a variety of light control strengths, from semi-opaque to blackout. In terms of style, there is a wide range and you should not have any trouble finding something to complement your décor.


Insulated Drapes:
This is another great way to insulate your home without sacrificing style. Choose a heavy fabric to ensure the best possible result, or consider combining an insulated shade with coordinating traditional curtains for a more customized look. For the ultimate energy savings, pair insulated drapes with cellular shades to restrict heating and cooling loss nearly completely.


Plantation Shutters:
Often used simply for aesthetic purposes on a home’s exterior, plantation shutters actually do a fairly decent job insulating windows and preventing heat and energy loss. Composite or vinyl shutters are particularly effective for insulation. While plantation shutters cannot quite compare to cellular shades or insulated drapes, they do offer a decent amount of insulation when fully closed.


Additional Winter Window and Heating Tips:
No matter which kind of insulated window treatment you choose, be sure to install it as flush with the panes as possible. This will ensure the treatment is able to perform as effectively as possible.

Budget and style preferences will typically dictate which kind of insulated window treatment you select for your home heating and comfort needs. Though the most expensive, triple layer cellular shades are the most efficient and may be especially helpful if you live in a really cold climate.

Over time, any investment in insulated window treatments will pay for itself in a relatively short time thanks to heating savings and general comfort. You will pay less on your heating and energy bills and will be able to enjoy the perfect indoor temperature throughout your home.

Insulated window treatments can be found at most retailers including home improvement stores, discount stores, department stores, and specialty home interiors stores.



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Put an End to that Rattle and Hum!

You love your home’s central heating and air conditioning, but you hate all the noise it makes. Rattling, blowing, ticking, creaking, and a host of other noises coming from your ductwork can turn a fantastic convenience into a real nuisance in the time it takes to crank up the thermostat. Here are a few tips that can help turn down the volume on a noisy HVAC (Heating ,Ventilation and Air Conditionin) system.


Check Internal and External Components:
One of the biggest contributing factors to a noisy heating system is a faulty relationship between the unit’s indoor and outdoor components. If internal and external parts are linked in such a way that they vibrate against each other, this will send plenty of sound through your home’s ductwork. Because ducts connect every room in your house when you have a central HVAC system, you may find it hard to escape all the noise. If you hear whining, buzzing, howling, or vibrations, have a professional check your HVAC system to ensure indoor ducts are independently connected to outdoor components.

How's Your Insulation?
Insulating your ductwork can also really cut down on unwanted noise. Sounds that come through ducts are generally caused by your heating system’s air handler. This metal box has a motor that can make parts vibrate as the system works. Adding a layer of insulation to the air handler can dampen the noise caused by these vibrations, sending less reverberation through the ducts. Insulation can also eliminate noises on the outside of your house, making you instantly more popular with the neighbors.

Acoustic Insulation:
Another way to insulate is with materials that absorb sound. This helps deaden noises, making them quieter and less intense until they eventually disappear at the farthest point from your system. Acoustic insulation can be added along ductwork, in the same way you might insulate plumbing pipes.

How's Your Fan?
Cleaning your home’s HVAC system fan is crucial to the quiet, efficient operation of your unit. The fan draws in dirt and dust, which can collect on the blades and interfere with its operation. Built-up debris can cause rattling and vibrations that will travel through the ducts and vents. If your fan is the wrong size for your system, it can also create noise as it struggles to keep up with demand. Keeping the fan clean and ensuring you have the right size fan for your unit will cut down on noise significantly.

Cleaning and Maintenance:
Regular duct and heat system cleaning and upkeep ensures your entire heating system is performing at its best. Professional maintenance keeps parts in good working condition and helps make sure that system components are installed correctly. A certified technician will tighten loose connections, fix gaps, clean parts, and add insulation to any system mechanisms that could be causing unusual noise. You should try to have a professional tune up and your HVAC system at least twice a year. The easiest way to remember is to schedule maintenance in the spring and in the fall, just before the peak cooling and heating seasons.


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Start Your Day on the Warmest Note Possible!

After snuggling warmly in your bed on a cold winter night, nothing comes close to the rude awakening of stepping into a frigid bathroom. True, the sudden arctic blast of an ice cold floor, toilet seat or shower may send your alertness from 0-60 in one second flat -- which is fine if you have a hard time reviving in the morning. But the sheer shock and awe of it all is not something most of us want to subject our hearts and nervous systems to.

The bathroom is, generally, the coldest room in the house. But it doesn't need to be. There are a number of simple ways to take the chill out of your morning rituals. Here are some easy suggestions to help you keep your morning visits to the bathroom cozy and warm...even on the coldest winter days.


Watch Your Windows
Drafty bathroom windows are the major culprit when it comes to cold bathrooms. Cold air will enter and warm air will exit through even the tiniest window gaps. Put your hand around all around the glass and window frames to feel for drafts. Pay special attention to window edges and where the window sections cross over each other. If you discover drafts, seal them ASAP. Use caulk around edges and weather stripping where pieces overlap each other. Replace any worn or flattened weather stripping. If you have storm windows, make sure they are in place instead of screens. You can also install removable, see-through plastic window film over the entire window; this does a great job at insulating. Also, be sure to hang up lined curtains or heavy blinds to add another layer of insulation. Finally, if your budget permits, consider installing state-of-the-art, energy-efficient windows; today's windows are engineered to provide superior insulation.


Carpe(t) Diem -- Seize the Day
Don't like stepping onto icy bathroom floor tiles? Lay down a rug or carpet --the thicker and plusher, the better! Carpeting can add a nice homey feel to your bathroom while keeping the chill out and holding heat in. Our recommendation is to use one or more bathroom rugs that you set down where you are more likley to be walking and standing; wall-to-wall carpeting will look snazzy but is much harder to keep clean and dry.


Take Advantage of Your Shower to Add Some Heat
Most people, in order to save money and water, hop in and out of the shower in the morning. But a hot shower can generate lots of nice, warm steam. Consider changing your shower head. Today's water-efficient shower heads use much less hot water than older models -- 2 gallons per minute versus 5-8 gallons-per-minute for older shower heads. That means you can take a longer shower and still conserve hot water. That longer shower will make the bathroom much warmer when you step out to finish your morning routine. After you're done with your shower, you can put that steam to use by opening the door and sharing with the rest of the house. You'll add some valuable moisture and warm air to other rooms.


Add a Heat Lamp
Consider installing a heat lamp in your bathroom. Heat lamps can quickly add toasty heat to the bathroom and speed up drying time. Most heat lamps come with a timer so you can start warming up the bathroom before you step inside and have automatic shutoffs so you don't need to worry about leaving the heat lamp on all day. Warning: if you should go the heat lamp route, avoid installing a heat lamp into a regular light fixture; the extra wattage they require can blow fuses, cause a short circuit or even a fire. Heat lamps should be installed separately. Call an electrician to have your heat lamp installed properly and safely.


Install a Heated Towel Rack
Wrapping yourself in a warm, dry towel can be just the ticket when stepping out of the shower or bath. Heated towel racks, rails or stands are available at many home stores. Most are electric and can be plugged into a wall outlet. Some heated towel racks can be connected to your hot water system, so they don't require any additional electricity to operate. If you decide to go this route, you will probably need an electrician or plumber to properly fit and instal the towel warmer.


Add a Coat of Paint
Giving your room a fresh coat of paint will not only make your bathroom look better, it can keep it warmer. These days you can find a number of high-quality heat-reflecting, insulating paint products. These paints contain ceramic and other insulating materials that reduce heat transfer by reflecting heat away from the painted surface. that means more heat stays in the bathroom and doesn't seep through your walls. This is the same technology used by NASA to reduce heat loss in their space vehicles.


Consider a Heated Floor System
An extravagant though highly effective solution to a chilly bathroom is to install under floor heating. Under floor heating provides even heat distribution across entire floor with no cold spots. Wet floors also pdry up quicker with a heated floor. Most Under floor heating systems are either electric or hydronic (water-based); call a plumber or heating contractor to discuss if installing such a system is good for you.


Warning: Avoid Space Heaters
During the winter months, it may seem tempting to bring electric space heaters, kerosene heaters and other portable heating devices into the bathroom. Yes, they will probably warm up the bathroom in no time. But all the water and moisture in the bathroom can put you at risk of electrocution. Plus...most bathrooms are tight, cramped spaces. It's easy to knock one of these heating devices over or get a towel or bathroom caught in the heating element. That can cause a fire. Play it safe -- keep these devices out of the bathroom.



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What You Can't See May Be Costing Hundreds of Dollars in Wasted Heating and Air Conditioning Bills!

Your heating and cooling systems use more energy than any other system in your home. Typically, 46% of your entire utility bill goes for heating and air conditioning alone. For many homeowners, a large chunk of that heating and cooling bill may be completely wasted...and the culprit is hidden out of sight beneath your feet and over your head.

Your home’s air duct system is a complex network of tubes made of sheet metal, fiberglass or other materials that runs throughout your walls, floors, and ceilings, carrying heated or cooled air from your home’s furnace and central air conditioner to each room. But if these air ducts have leaks or are poorly insulated, as much as 60% of your heated or cooled air can be lost before it even reaches the registers in these rooms. That can result in a lot of wasted energy...and money. As well, ducts that are damaged or don’t work properly can create serious, life-threatening carbon monoxide (CO) problems in the home.

Sealing and insulating air ducts that are in unconditioned spaces -- such as an attic, crawl space or basement -- is extremely important and can be a great way to get a handle on out-of-control heating and cooling costs. Insulation if fairly easy to install on existing duct work. If you are buying a new duct system, consider one that comes with insulation already installed. Sealing your air ducts to prevent leaks is even more important if you want to save energy and money. If the supply ducts are leaking, large amounts of heated or cooled air can be forced out of holes or unsealed joints and lost. In addition, unconditioned air can be drawn into return ducts through unsealed joints. In the summer, hot attic air can be drawn in, increasing the load on the air conditioner. In the winter, your furnace will have to work longer to keep your house comfortable. Either way, your energy losses can cost you big bucks.

In most cases, air ducts in unconditioned spaces should be sealed and insulated by a qualified HVAC and duct work professional using appropriate sealing and insulation materials -- especially if the air ducts are concealed. If you're a handy do-it-yourselfer, here are a few simple tips to help with minor or temporary repairs to visible duct work.

• Check your ducts for obvious air leaks. Look for sections of duct work that should be joined but have separated, as well as for holes or punctures.


• If you use tape to seal your ducts, avoid the common cloth-backed, rubber adhesive duct tape that you can get at any old store. This garden variety duct tape tends to fail quickly. Instead, most HVAC and duct contractors recommend professional quality mastic, butyl, foil or other heat-resistant tapes. Look for tape with the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) logo.


• Be award that insulating ducts in the basement will make the basement colder. If the heat ducts are fully insulated, water pipes and drains in the basement could freeze and burst if the basement temperature gets too cold. Use electric heating tape wrap on your pipes to prevent this. Also consider insulating your basement walls to hold more heat in or installing heating in your basement.


• If your basement has been converted to a living area, hire a professional to install both supply and return registers in the basement rooms.


• Make sure that a well-sealed vapor barrier exists on the outside of the insulation on cooling ducts to prevent moisture from building up.
  

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A Comprehensive Shape-Up Plan for Your House!

Whole House Home Performance is gaining popularity in the home improvement industry, as more and more homeowners search for ways to upgrade their home's’s energy efficiency. It is a systematic approach to home improvement in which a certified professional uses state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment and testing to identify the cause of some of the most common household problems that impact energy-efficiency, indoor air quality, and comfort. Following these recommendations can make your home healthier and more comfortable, as well as significantly reduce your monthly utility bills and even increase your home's value.

The following are some of the most frequently identified areas where Whole House Home Performance improvements can make a difference.


Sealing Leaks and Ductwork:

Repairing leaky ducts and sealing drafts can reduce your heating and cooling expense by 30 percent or more. If ducts, windows, and doorways are not sealed properly, all the energy used to heat or cool the air inside your home is wasted.

Sealing ducts with mastic, durable duct tape, or an aerosol sealant, insulating duct work in attics and crawl spaces, and weather-stripping windows and doors will help improve air flow throughout your house.


Adding Insulation:

Inadequate insulation in ceilings, basements, attics, and exterior walls can allow warm air to escape your home in winter and cold air to escape in summer. This forces your home’s heating and cooling systems to work harder than they have to, which increases energy usage and utility costs. In cold regions, insufficient insulation can also lead to ice dams, which clog gutters and cause roof leaks and pipe bursts.

Improving the level of insulation in these areas ensures that both warm and cool temperatures are stabilized throughout your house, making for a more comfortable dwelling that’s more affordable to heat and cool.


Upgrading HVAC Equipment:

Older air conditioners can use 30 to 50 percent more energy than newer models. Replacing an old device with a new machine that has a high energy-efficiency rating can cut your summer cooling costs in half. The same can be said of heating systems.

Before you decide to replace your central air or heat system, be sure to have a professional check the ductwork. If ducts are in disrepair, buying a new system won’t help you save any money; all that energy-efficiency will simply leak out through the cracks and tears.

As well, regular service and annual furnace tune-ups and air conditioning tune-ups are a great way to guarantee that your heating and cooling system stays in fine working order, lasts a long time and continues to perform at peak efficiency levels.


Upgrading Lighting and Appliances:

Lighting and appliances account for about half of the average home’s total energy costs. Perhaps the simplest change you can make is to replace the bulbs in your home with energy-efficient compact fluorescent lighting and to swap older appliances for Energy Star rated models. Dishwashers, refrigerators, washers and dryers, and other major appliances that are more than 10 years old are significantly less efficient than newer models. Furthermore, replacing incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents can drastically reduce your monthly utility bill. And you’ll save even more money because compact fluorescents last 10 times longer than traditional bulbs—you won’t have to change a light bulb for four or five years.



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Replacing your old heating and cooling system with a new, energy-efficient heating and cooling system is a challenging decision for most homeowners. Heating and cooling can account for nearly half of the energy used in your home. You want to maximize your comfort, but you don't want to pay through the nose. The right system may cost more upfront, but save money and reduce utility bills over time. The wrong system may need constant repair, under perform or die before its time. So much to consider!

When it's time to install a new heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, make an educated decision with the help of these simple suggestions:


Find the Right HVAC Contractor
Getting the right contractor is key to getting a quality installation. Make sure the contractor you choose has at least several years of experience and can provide references. Make sure that the contractor is licensed and insured. Be sure to ask for a written contract of all work in advance. And always choose a contractor’s whose service and installation technicians are certified by North American Technician Excellence (NATE). NATE is an industry-supported certification for heating and air conditioning technicians. NATE-certified HVAC technicians have met the nation's highest standards for HVAC training and knowledge.

Here are some additional things your heating and air conditioning contractor should do BEFORE you sign a contract:

• Measure existing ductwork to be sure it can handle the increased air flow of a new system
• Do a complete Load Calculation that will take into consideration window and vent locations as well as existing hot or cold areas of your home.
• Discuss with you any indoor air quality issues such as allergies, humidity levels in your home and any additional features you would like in your new home comfort system.
• Present you with several system options, not just one.
• Give you a written guarantee that your new heating and air conditioning system will perform as promised.

Bottom line: all heating and air conditioning contractors are not alike. In the end, it’s the contractor who will make the biggest difference in how the installation or replacement goes.


Properly Size Your Heating and Air Conditioning System
When installing or replacing heating and air conditioning cooling equipment, bigger isn’t always better and one-size does not fit all. Oversized HVAC equipment will cost more up front, consume more energy, provide inadequate cooling and humidification, and ultimately, need to be replaced prematurely. And don’t assume your current heating and air conditioning system is the right size either; today’s HVAC equipment is more efficient than those 10 years or older and your original system may have been sized improperly. Efficiency, not size is what you're after. Ask your HVAC contractor to thoroughly measure your home and calculate the "size" of the system using Manual J, or an equivalent industry-acceptable calculation tool.


Proper Installation is Crucial
One of the biggest factors in getting the best performance out of your new heating or air conditioning system depends on how well it is installed. Shoddy installation accounts for over half of the HVAC service calls and most customer dissatisfaction during the first year of operation. At a minimum, make sure your HVAC installation technician performs the following:

• Installs equipment in easily accessible areas for easy maintenance.
• Tests for adequate airflow and verifies that the cooling system has been charged with the correct amount of refrigerant.
• Conducts a combustion safety test after ducts are sealed to be sure all gas or oil-burning appliances are working properly.
• Replaces indoor and outdoor coils for maximum efficiency.

Sealing and Insulation
Central air conditioners, heat pumps, and furnaces rely on a system of ducts to circulate air throughout your home. Heated and cooled air can easily escape through gaps between duct joints. Ask your contractor to seal and insulate ducts throughout your home; this can improve your heating and cooling system’s efficiency by up to 20 percent!


Heating and Air Conditioning System Maintenance
Your contractor should be available to do annual check-ups and tune-ups of your heating and cooling system to help prevent future problems and keep your system in fine working order. If your contractor offers a Service Partner Plan or other kind of maintenance contract, sign up for it! It will keep you on a schedule of regular and proper maintenance, save you money over time and give you peace of mind.

Also be sure to keep your system clean and free from dust, dirt and debris. Accumulated dust and other impediments can block the flow of air and that can drastically reduce the efficiency of your heating and cooling system. Be sure to check your air conditioner or furnace filter every month, especially during heavy use months (winter and summer). If the filter looks dirty after a month, change it or clean it. Never go longer than 3 months without replacing or cleaning a filter.

Look for the ENERGY STAR Label
When deciding on a heating or air conditioning system, insist on it being an Energy Star qualified system. The Energy Star designation is your best assurance that you are are buying an energy-efficient system. Be sure to ask your HVAC contractor to estimate your utility costs of purchasing an Energy Star qualified system. Although Energy Star heating and air condition equipment may cost more initially, they will cost much less to operate over time. In fact, most Energy Star qualified heating and air conditioning products can yield annual returns of 15–30 percent in lower energy bills. That translates into hundreds of dollars in annual savings.

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